David Mancuso DJ and Founder of The Loft dance music parties in New York City.

David Mancuso DJ and Founder of The Loft dance music parties in New York City.

David Mancuso DJ and Founder of The Loft dance music parties in New York City.

Phife Dawg Rapper and Co-Founder of A Tribe Called Quest

Phife Dawg Rapper and Co-Founder of A Tribe Called Quest

Phife Dawg Rapper and Co-Founder of A Tribe Called Quest

Maurice White Singer-songwriter Founder Of Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White Singer-songwriter Founder Of Earth, Wind & Fire

Maurice White Singer-songwriter Founder Of Earth, Wind & Fire

Vanity Singer Actress Prince Protégé Leader of Vanity Six

Vanity Singer Actress Prince Protégé Leader of Vanity Six

Vanity Singer Actress Prince Protégé Leader of Vanity Six

Muhammad Ali Boxing Champion Humanitarian

Muhammad Ali Boxing Champion Humanitarian

Muhammad Ali Boxing Champion Humanitarian

George Michael Singer-songwriter Pop Superstar

George Michael Singer-songwriter Pop Superstar

George Michael Singer-songwriter Pop Superstar

Tommy Ford Actor Best Remembered For Playing Tommy On Martin

Tommy Ford Actor Best Remembered For Playing Tommy On Martin

Tommy Ford Actor Best Remembered For Playing Tommy On Martin

Bill Nunn Actor Best Remembered For Playing Radio Raheem In "Do The Right Thing"

Bill Nunn Actor Best Remembered For Playing Radio Raheem In "Do The Right Thing"

Bill Nunn Actor Best Remembered For Playing Radio Raheem In "Do The Right Thing"

Nicholas Caldwell Singer and Co-founder of The Whispers

Nicholas Caldwell Singer and Co-founder of The Whispers

Nicholas Caldwell Singer and Co-founder of The Whispers

Clarence "Blowfly" Reid Songwriter Rap Pioneer

Clarence "Blowfly" Reid Songwriter Rap Pioneer

Clarence "Blowfly" Reid Songwriter Rap Pioneer

Billy Paul Philly Soul Singer

Billy Paul Philly Soul Singer

Billy Paul Philly Soul Singer

Gwen Ifill Award-winning Journalist

Gwen Ifill Award-winning Journalist

Gwen Ifill Award-winning Journalist

Prince Singer-songwriter Musician Icon

Prince Singer-songwriter Musician Icon

Prince Singer-songwriter Musician Icon

Bernie Worrell Keyboardist for Parliament-Funkadelic P-Funk Architect

Bernie Worrell Keyboardist for Parliament-Funkadelic P-Funk Architect

Bernie Worrell Keyboardist for Parliament-Funkadelic P-Funk Architect

Sharon Jones Singer Leader Of The Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones Singer Leader Of The Dap-Kings

Sharon Jones Singer Leader Of The Dap-Kings

Afeni Shakur Activist And Mother Of Tupac Shakur

Afeni Shakur Activist And Mother Of Tupac Shakur

Afeni Shakur Activist And Mother Of Tupac Shakur

Prince Be Rapper And Member Of PM Dawn

Prince Be Rapper And Member Of PM Dawn

Prince Be Rapper And Member Of PM Dawn

Kashif R&B Innovator

Kashif R&B Innovator

Kashif R&B Innovator

Colonel Abrams House Music Icon

Colonel Abrams House Music Icon

Colonel Abrams House Music Icon

Lee Andrews Doo-wop Singer Father Of Questlove And Donn T

Lee Andrews Doo-wop Singer Father Of Questlove And Donn T

Lee Andrews Doo-wop Singer Father Of Questlove And Donn T

David Bowie

Throwback: Ephraim Lewis-Drowning In Your Eyes

August 12, 2012blakcitrus

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Ephraim Lewis was an R&B singer from Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, England and he held the biggest promise for Elektra Records when they signed him in the early ’90’s. He started his career singing gospel music with his siblings in The Lewis Brothers. Independent Music producers Kevin Bacon and Jonathon Quarmby became his mentors and helped him get his solo deal with Elektra. They produced his 1992 debut album Skin and it had two singles, “Drowning In Your Eyes” and “It Can’t Be Forever.” The album sold modestly and the record company had plans to make him a bigger commercial success by sending him to Los Angeles to work with songwriter Glen Ballard. Unfortunately Lewis’s life was cut short on March 18, 1994 after the LAPD came to detain him because of strange behavior originating from the end of a methamphetamine binge. Lewis was naked and climbing the walls of the apartment building where he was living and the police shot him with a taser that caused him to land head first on the ground. There were early comparisons to Seal but Lewis had the potential to become his own voice had he lived. Skin is still an obscure but worthy entry into the canons of sublime soul.